The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Despite a century by Golam Mabud of Sylhet Division, hosts Chittagong Division sense their first victory in the four-day Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 9th National Cricket League against the visitors needing another 142 runs with all wickets in hand on the 4th day today (Wednesday).

Chasing an easy target of 153 runs at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong, the hosts scored 11 for none in 7 overs in their 2nd innings when the bails were drawn for the 3rd day on Tuesday.

Opener Gazi Salahuddin and Nafees Iqbal were batting on 9 and 1 runs respectively.

Earlier, as Sylhet Division was forced to follow-on, Golam Mabud scored 110 runs off 199 balls with 11 fours and two sixes to enable his side post 333 for all in 115 overs in the 2nd innings after resuming with overnight 76 for 4 in 32 overs.

This was the 7th century in the ongoing league and the 3rd in the 5th round after Shakib Al Hasan, Imrul Kayes, Alok Kapali, Javed Omar, Gazi Salahuddin and Tushar Imran.

Wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim contributed 2nd highest 43 runs off 105 balls with six boundaries while overnight batsman Alok Kapali made 36.

Yasin Arafat captured four wickets for 107 runs while Saju Datta took two wickets.

Earlier, Chittagong Division scored 308 runs for all in the first innings and later dismissed Sylhet Division for 127 forcing them to follow-on.

In another match at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium (SCS) in Bogra, Barisal Division still trailed by 57 runs against league leaders Khulna Division as they were 133 for 6 in 63.3 overs in their 2nd innings after being forced to follow-on on the 3rd day.

Rakibul Hasan remained unbeaten on 57 facing 147 balls that included nine fours while number six Raisul Islam was the other not out batsman with 24.

Murad Khan and Syed Rasel took two wickets apiece.

Earlier, replying to Khulna Division's 1st innings total of 396 for 9 (dec.), Barisal Division resumed their 1st innings today with overnight 159 for 5 in 60 overs but were all out for 206 in 83.3 overs.

Apart from Imran Ahmed's 60 and Rakibul Hasan's 38, all-rounder Arafat Salahuddin was the other notable scorer with 25.

Murad Khan caused the major damage to Barisal's 1st innings claming seven wickets for 53 runs in 31 overs while left-arm national medium pacer Syed Rasel took two wickets for 38 runs.

This was the 2nd seven-wicket haul in the ongoing league after another Khulna pace man Dollar Mahmud achieved the feat in the 3rd round with a hattrick.

At the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium (RDVS), hosts Rajshahi Division, playing against Dhaka Division, took an overall 322-run lead scoring 229 for 9 in 88 overs in the second innings at stumps on the 3rd day.

National all-rounder Farhad Reza is just two runs short of his 1st century in the league with a fabulous knock of 98 not out off 171 balls that featured eight fours and a six when bails were draw for the day. Alamgir Kabir was the other unbeaten batsman on 4.

Tail-ender Anisur Rahman scored 31 runs and Mushfiqur Rahim made 21 to help the current runners-up side to take a healthy overall lead.

Pacer Mahbubul Alam Robin claimed four wickets for 47 runs in 22 overs while Niaz Morshed, Mohammad Sharif and spinner Mosharraf Hossain Rubel took one wicket each.

Earlier, Eajshahi Division scored 298 runs in their 1st innings replying to Dhaka Division's 1st innings total of 205 for 9 (dec.).

Rajshahi vs Dhaka: Rajshahi 298 & 229/9 in 88 overs; Jahirul 0, Junaed 5, Naeem 1, Khaled Mashud 12, Farhad Hossain 17, Mushfiqur 21, Anisur 31, Shahzada 20, Saqlain 2, Farhad Reza 98*, Alamgir 4*; Mahbubul 4/47, Niaz 1/20, Sharif 1/45, Mosharraf 1/72

Dhaka 205/9 (dec) in 71 overs; Anwar 0, Javed 36, Al Shahriar 20, Ashraful 27, Mehrab 43, Shamsur 55, Mahmudullah 3, Mosharraf 6, Mahbubul 0, Sharif 4*, Niaz 0*; Saqlain 4/34, Alamgir 3/65, Mushfiqur 1/8, Farhad Reza 1/30

Chittagong vs Sylhet; Chittagong 308 & 11/0 in 7 overs; Gazi Salauddin 9*, Nafees 1* Sylhet 127 & 339/10 Over -115; Imtiaz 4, Golam Rahman 20, Rajin 13, Golam Mabud 110, Sharifullah 17, Alok 36, Mushfiqur 43, Tapash 1, Enamul 25, Nabil 33, Rashedur 22*; Yasin 4/107, Saju 2/107, Ehsanul 1/20, Kamrul 1/35, Tareq 1/50

Khulna vs Barisal; Khulna 1st innings 396/9 (dec) in 117.2 overs; Nazmus 3, Imrul 0, Habibul 13rh, Tushar 165, Shakib 81, Mostafizur 29, Sahagir 1, Mashrafe 17, Ziaur 58, Rasel 3, Murad 0*; Abul Bashar 2/29, Talha 2/51, Sajidul 1/69, Arafat 1/92

Barisal 1st innings 206/10 in 83.3 overs; Hannan 9, Shahriar 4, Imran 60, Raqibul 38, Raisul 6, Abul Bashar 16, Arafat 25, Shaheen 4, Talha 6, Sajidul 13, Tareq 2*; Murad 7/53, Rasel 2/38, Tushar 1/0;

Second Innings 133/6; in 63.3 overs; Shahriar 0, Hannan 15, Imran 15, Raqibul 57, Arafat 3, Raisul 24*; Rasel 2/20, Murad 2/30, Mashrafe 1/39

AFP, Hobart

Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 96 runs soon after lunch on the final day of the second cricket Test at Bellerive Oval here Tuesday.

Australia wrapped the series 2-0 after winning the first Brisbane Test by an innings and 40 runs.

It was Australia's 14th consecutive Test victory with the sequence beginning against South Africa in Melbourne in December 2005.

Sri Lanka, resuming at 247 for three and needing 260 runs for victory with seven wickets in hand, effectively lost the game when they lost six wickets before lunch.

Muttiah Muralitharan was the last wicket to fall, bowled

by Brett Lee for 15.

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga was unbeaten on 42, which included three sixes off medium-pacer Stuart Clark.

Kumar Sangakkara was his team's shining light finishing with 192, the highest score by a Sri Lankan in Australia since Aravinda de Silva's 167 in Brisbane in 1989.

The Australians hold the record of most successive Test wins with 16 under the captaincy of Steve Waugh from October 1999 to February 2001.

Lee, the man of the match in Brisbane, was again the outstanding player for Australia, taking 4-82 in the first innings and 4-87 in the second innings.

Australia's next Test will be the first of four home matches against India in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

Reuters, Hobart

Former Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu announced his retirement from international cricket after his team lost the second test to Australia on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old sent a statement to Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Duleep Mendis announcing his immediate retirement.

"I write to inform you that I will be retiring from international cricket for Sri Lanka with effect from November 21st 2007," the statement, released to the media, said.

Atapattu scored 16 centuries in 90 tests for Sri Lanka but was expected to face disciplinary action on his return home after criticising the national selectors, describing them as "muppets."

"Sri Lankan cricket, I think at this moment in time, is not going the way, the direction, it should be going," Atapattu told reporters during last week's first test in Brisbane.

"Especially with the muppets, basically, headed by a joker."

Atapattu also played 268 one-day internationals for Sri Lanka but his greatest performances were in tests.

He converted six of his 16 test hundreds into double-centuries, a fear bettered only by Don Bradman (12), Wally Hammond and Brian Lara (seven each).

AFP, Seoul

The world's former number one tennis player was no match for the current champion when they met on court Tuesday for only the second time.

In an exhibition match in the South Korean capital, Roger Federer beat Pete Sampras 6-4, 6-3 in a match lasting just 61 minutes.

Serving for the match leading 5-3, Federer was stretched to deuce when he badly mishit a return on 40-30. But he won the next two points for the victory.

After taking the first set 6-4, Federer took four of the first five games in the second set. Sampras showed signs of life in the sixth, winning it easily with the help of his booming serve.

But the 36-year-old American could only muster one more game against the 26-year-old Swiss, whose effortless performance demonstrated why he has been the world number one for four years running.

The Swiss ace is at the peak of his powers, lifting his fourth Masters Cup title on Sunday, whereas Sampras retired from the professional game in 2002.